The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-19

Besides, tits really necessary thatI should
| do littlo Something toward the support OF
my family just at present"
| OF course the position was granted to him
at once, though two old members of the
| church, faithful and deserving, had made
previous applications.
80, have Mr.. Revere, by all means" said
the ladies Of the parish, with one voice.
Hos so elegant and polite that it will be
a pleasure to see him walking up the aisles.
Then we have so many fashionable visitors
in summer, it is desirable that we should
have sexton with some manuers. Poor
old Mr.. Swan; how awkward he was, and
| how he used to shuttle about in his creaking
shoes! Mr.. Revere will really give quite a
| different air to the church"
| He commenced to exercise his new duties
at once. The church was very nearly oppo-
site the Revere cottage, and the whole fam
| lily seemed to assist him in his labors; Or at
| least, they were always running to and
| from the sacred ediice Mrs Revere
wrapped in her red shawl, was often seen
| looking from the back windows which over
| looked the parsonage Miss Revere always
went over at twilight to play upon the organ
an accompaniment to the "Lost Chord" a
| song which Tom Stratton had just given
her; and he sometimes came to hear the
song, standing with Tessy in the rich and
solemn glow of the choir window.
Miss Tessy made fresh bouquets to adorn
the pulpit every Sunday morning, and the
| refreshing fragrance of roses and lilies and
| pinks. greeted the congregation the moment
the church door was opened. The smaller
Reveres played school there, the teacher in
| the pulpit, presiding severely over the pupils
beneath her eye. And sometimes, l am
sorry to say, they indulScd in more stirring
games, such as daring races over the backs
Of the pews, and hide land go-seek On
some occasions they collected the hymn
books from the various pews and built
houses of them in the broad aisle. They
retired to the soft, satin cushions of the
pulpit to enjoy lunches of bread and strip.
The organ stops began to get mysteriously
out of order but the organist fancied Miss
Revere and could not refuse to give her the
| key, though she invariably left the instru-
ment unlocked On one occasion the minis
ter was somewhat startled to find row of
rag-babies seated in state upon the sofa in
the pulpit when he assembled tho pulpit
steps. The congregation, to which only the
head of very tall, black Dinah was visible,
was moved to mirth.
The shocked deacons felt it to be their
duty to demonstrate with Mr.. Revere con-
corning such Dissertation of the church.
They did so with due gentleness, consider
| ing the dignity of the man, and after that
there were no more such spectacles on Sun
day.
| In spite Of the strange mixing up and
mysterious stc1iness of their hymn books,
in spite of great deal of dust on the pew
doors and ratings, and in spite of soiled
carpets and by no means punctual bell-ring-
ing, the people of Bramieigh First Parish
| were more than satisfied with their sexton
He moved noiselessly and with an ele-
giant dignity about the aisies; faint per
fume tioated from his garments; he wore
light kid gloves; and strangers always
seemed satisfactorily impressed by his man
ner. He never failed to remember the min
ister's glass Of water, and opened the doors
Of the pews as politely for the old ladies as
for the young ones.
And in the meantime, the sections family
were growing more and more in favor with
the people of the village. The very first
families condescended to visit them, and the
young ladies were invited everywhere.
They became valued members Of the archery
| club; theywere conspicuous at lawn parties
and picnics; and Tom Stratton, the most
eligible young man in the place by far, was
really devoted to Tessy. The family of the
sexton who had just resigned had never
| been noticed at all.
Tom Stratton had travelled In Europe: he
had crammed his head with books he be-
| lieved in blood, but he had known little Of
society outside of his native village. Tessy
| Revere was by far the handsomest and
most picturesque young lady that he had
| ever met, but sometimes he could not help
| feeling d shade of doubt concerning the
family.
| There was a dash of Bohemiansm about
the girls, it could not be denied. Mrs Re-
we're often contradictel herself in her end
! less stories Of their past life, and boasted
in very bad grammar, of titled relatives
| Mr.. Revere was not as elegant in his Ian
! guage as in his looks and manners The
small Reveres, who were seldom allowed in
I the parlor when company was present, told
''wierd and reckless tales of au illustrious
uncle who Travelled with funny show But
then the prattle of children was not to be
| depended on.
| But why did they not exhibit some relics
of former prosperity? Why did they hang
pink and yellow chromos upon their walls?
And why, oh why would Miss Revere per-
sist in warbling tile any thing but elegant
airs from comic operas? First family young
! uleH III DrdullelSu are prudent, even IN love
matters.
| But after he had taken tea with the fam
fly, his doubts were removed in great de-
gree, and the course of true love promised
to run with satisfactory smoothness.
Tessy, in a white dress, with a bunch of
scarlet lilies in her belt, was more than
usually ladylilSe and charming. Miss Revere
was stately and quiet in salmon-coIored
muslin. Mrs. Revere, only mildly pathetic
over the days when she lived with her uncle.
Count -, in dear, gay Paris, presided at
the table with graceful ease. The father of
the family WAS ployrully affectionate with
his daughters, and delis htfully courteous
and cordial to his guest, and the children,
with clean faces and dresses, did nothing
more objectionable than to fall into one
short but li-ely engagement, the cause of
the war being that one was favored with
larger piece Of cake than the rest.
Tom Stratton was fastidious concerning
tea tables. First families in Bramleigh set
great store by teacups and proudly dis
played their treasures from over tho sea-
The Revere table was not blessed with any
thing Of this kind. The dishes, of various
kinds, were cracked and common but the
table-coverwas OF snowy whiteness Sprays
| of nasturtium vine, with deep crimson bios